Apparatus for the production of coal by shaving techniques



Jan. l, 1963 J, HERRMANN 3,071,355

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COAL BY SHAVING TECHNIQUES Filed May 5, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l Wam) d Jan. 1, 1963 J. HERRMANN IQUES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF' COAL BY SHAVING TECHN Filed May 5, 1959 /NvENroRk Iuuus HEMA/Mw W ,wrom/sys Jan. 1, 1963 `1.||L= RRMANN 3,071,355

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OOAL BY sHAvING TECHNIQUES Filed May 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATVOK/VVS IN VEN T 0R,

3,071,355 APPARATUS FOR THE PRDUCTIN F CAL EY SHAVNG TECHNIQUES .luilus Herrmann, Altlunen, Germany, assignor to Gewerkschar't Eisenhtte Westfalia, Wetlnnar, near Lunen, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed May 5, 1959, Ser. No. 811,2@3 Claims priority, application Germany May 7, 1958 Claims. (Cl. 262-) The present invention relates to the production of coal, and more particularly to a process and apparatus for convenient and effective shaving of coal from mineral deposits thereof. ln the normal production of coal by means of a planmg or shaving device it is customary -to impel the device along the entire span of the mine face Ibeing worked at an approximately uniform linear rate of travel. Where soft coal is to be recovered, such procedures are usually quite satisfactory. On the other hand, where harder coal deposits are encountered, particularly high stresses are exerted on the working parts of the plane device As a consequence of these high stresses, the wear and tear on the driving means is excessive, and unless overload safety equipment is provided, either the driving cable or chain impelling the plane device will break or the driving mechanism will become damaged. Where an overload safety means is installed on the device, although the above described accelerated wear and tear will not occur, each time the device responds to actuation of said safety means the work must necessarily be temporarily halted until the equipment can lbe reset. As a result, needless man-hours are wasted.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the foregoing drawbacks of conventional planing and shaving equipment ad to provide a process for the simple, efficient and expeditious recovery of coal from mineral deposits and to provide an apparatus for effecting the same, which is effective and durable in operation and inexpensive in construction.

Other and further objects will become apparent from a study of the within specification and accompanying drawings, in which FIG. l is a plan view of an embodiment of the driving means in a shaving device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top View partially in section of the shaving eiement of the device in accordance with the invention, showing its application to the mine face;

FlG. 3 is a side view of the shaving element in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end View of the shaving element in FIG. 2, showing means .for mounting same for efficient operation with respect to a biased mine face and showing means for conveying extracted coal;

FIG. 5 is a top plan View of part of the means for imparting a pulsating drive to the shaving element;

FiG, 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of construction for imparting pulsating drive to the shaving eiement, and l FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic top plan View of FIG. 6.

It has been found in accordance with the invention that by providing the impelling force of the shaving element as a pulsating force the shaving element may be advantageously applied to the production of coal from a mine face with extremely good results and without danger of accelerating the wear and tear of the working parts. A continuous drive means may be employed for this purpose such that the impelling force translated to the shaving element is effected in limited pulsating degrees.

The shaving element preferably carries shaving or chipping plane edge members, which may be resiliently dis- 3,6?1'355 Patented Jan. l, 1963 placed a certain degree with respect to the shaving element body. This may be accomplished by spring means which permit a predetermined degree of displacement of the plane edge members in response to excessive resistance forces presented by the coal face. Consequently, where the pulsating drive force impels the shaving element forward against an excessively resistant mine face, instead of this excessive resistance force being undesirably transmitted through the plane edge members to the shaving element body and possibly to the driving mechanism, the same is absorbed by said spring means positioned between the plane edge members and the shaving element body.

Furthermore, it has been found advantageously in accordance with the pulsating drive method in accordance with the invention that the total power required for operating the pulsating drive mechanism for producing the coal is significantly less than that necessary for conventional continuous uniform impelling force operations.

'Ihe pulsating force used in accordance with the invention for impelling the shaving element may be suitably attained in a simple manner by means of a winch-drum apparatus, which moves periodically back and forth along a linear path, preferably in the approximate direction of the impelling movement of the shaving element. Such linear movement of the winch-drum is superimposed by a rotary movement as well in such a way that the drum may be rotated intermittently in increments during each pulsating back and forth period.

A cable or chain, which is suitably attached at one end to the shaving element, is disposed over said drum at the other end. During each pulsating actuation, the drum moves linearly forward and at the same time rotates, thereby winding a certain increment of the outstanding cable length thereonto. On the return movement the drum exerts a pulling force on the cable, which has now been shortened by this increment, and in turn on the shaving element. Accordingly, the shaving element is driven against the mine face with this force and so effects the loosening and shaving off of coal.

In the preferred embodiment, the winch-drum is rotatably mounted on a slidable carriage for movement back and forth in a direction parallel to the linear path of the shaving element. The back and forth movement may ,be suitably carried out by means of a crank drive connecting rod pivotally attached to the slidable carriage. In order to avoid distortions or uneven travel of the winch carriage, two parallel connecting rods may be used, each attached to the carriage at either end of the drum. Advantageously, the two connecting rods, because of the path of their movement, may be utilized to perform the rotation of the drum in intermittent periodic increments as well. For this purpose the connecting rods have pivotally mounted therebetween a driving pawl which co-acts with ratchet teeth disposed on a corresponding end of the drum winch. With each forward cycle of the connecting rods the driving pawl is upwardly urged against the drum ratchet teeth so as to force the drum to rotate a corresponding increment. On the return, the pawl is lowered, passing over several teeth, so that upon the next cycle the drum will be rotatably advanced a further increment.

As a particularly important feature of this rotating drive means may be mentioned the provision for resiliency in the pawl mounting. This may be accomplished by suitable means, as for instance by mounting the pawl on a housing attached to the connecting rods, which housing contains resilient shock-absorbing means, such as a coil spring, whereby to absorb any excessive counter-forces causedl by resistance of the mine face to the shaving action. This resilient feature of the drum rotating apparatus may be considered as an overload safety mechanism, and one which does not require resetting after it is caused to come into play.

Thus, where excessive resistance is encountered by the shaving element, instead of the drum jamming or the cable breaking as a consequence of the unyielding pulsating force, the resistance is absorbed by the resilient means, as for example a coil spring arrangement. It will be appreciated that the coil spring should be provided with means for adjusting the tension thereof, depending on the type of mine face to be worked and the concomitant degree of resistance to be expected.

In connection with the mechanism for rotating the drum, in order to prevent backlash or reverse rotation of the drum during the return cycle, the drum carriage is provided with non-reverse pawl means, preferably on the opposite side of the drum from that at which the driving pawl is located. Only such non-reverse pawl means is used which preferably engages the same ratchet teeth on the corresponding end of the drum in such a way that the drum may be advanced but not reversed, in direction.

As a consequence of this resilient overload safety feature, preferably in conjunction with displaceable plane edge members, excessive stresses on the working parts are avoided. Thus, where unduly high resistance of the coal face to the pulsating drive is encountered, it will be preferably absorbed, if not too great, by the resiliently displaceable plane edge members so that these members will not break nor will theplane element carrying them be damaged. Nevertheless, where the resistance is too great to be counteracted in this way, the excessive resistance to the pulsating force will be passed on to the resilient overload safety driving pawl mounting, whereby the excessive force will be completely absorbed.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the pulsating force may, however, be imparted to the shaving element by an arrangement which is simpler and cheaper -to produce than that above-referred to.

The general principle of the apparatus remains the same, in that a cable or chain also pulls the shaving element forward with a pulsating movement and a spring pulls it back from the working face when the tension exerted bythe cable slackens.

However, in this modified form of construction, the cable or chain running on to the winding drum is guided over a reversing pulley which is loosely mounted on a rotary eccentric or a crank shaft. A slipping clutch is preferably tted at a suitable point between the driving means and the drum so that, in the event of overloading due to the shaving element unexpectedly encountering high resistance, damage to t'ne driving means will immediately be prevented.

Another advantage of this construction is that the drum can be rotated continuously and at a uniform speed. In spite of this, the desired fluctuations in the tension of the driving element are attained merely by the fact that the reversing pulley itself performs a back and forth movement which, for the sake of simplicity, is produced by a rotary eccentric or a rotary crank shaft.

Thus, the coal production may proceed for the most part automatically, the only operation really necessary being that for directing the path of the shaving apparatus and for adjusting the tension of the resilient overload safety mechanism to the type of coal face encountered.

Referring to the drawing, FIGS. 1 and 5 show a pulsating driving means in accordance with the invention, having a base on which is mounted at one end driving motor 11 connected by coupling 12 to transmission box 13. On either side of transmission box 13 is a crank shaft drive wheel 13a connected by a corresponding pivot 14 to a connecting rod 15. Wheel 13a thus transmits the driving force of motor 11 to the near end of the corresponding connecting rod 15. The force CTI is partially effected as pulsating linear force and partially as pulsating rotary force on the winch-drum 18 by means of pivot 16, connecting the far end of each connecting rod 15 to a slidable frame 17.

Winch-drum 18 is rotatably mounted on slide frame 17 for both rotational travel thereon and linear forward and backward travel therewith. Slide frame 17 is arranged for sliding along guide surface member 19, which is positioned on base 10. Thus, upon rotation of wheel 13a in the direction of arrow 20 in response to driving motor 11, a forward and backward linear movement of frame 17 carrying winch-drum 18 along guide surface member 19 is effected. Traction line 21, which may be any suitable chain or cable, is thereby pulled in longi- .udinal direction toward motor 11 and then wound a given increment during each cycle.

Simultaneously with this linear forward and backward movement is a super-imposed rotary movement of drum 13, which is effected by means of pawl 22 which is urged against ratchet teeth 24 located on the periphery of one end of drum 18. Pawl 22 is pivotally mounted on a shaft connecting corresponding lever arms 23 which are in turn pivotally connected as a unit at their opposite ends to connecting rods 15. Lever arms 23 are also resiliently connected to corresponding connecting rods 15 by means of a spring connection 25. The lever arms 23 on either side are preferably rigidly interconnected. The tension of spring connection 25 may be suitably adjusted by turning nut 26.

Spring connection 25, is in the form of a coil spring, is seated in its lower end in the recess 25b indicated in dotted line FIG. l, said recess being provided within the plate 25a. The upper end of spring connection 25 abuts the under side of bridge 23a (seen more clearly in FIG. 5). Bridge 23a is attached at either end to the corresponding lever arms 23. A screw 26a having its head 261) against the under side of plate 25a passes through a bore opening in plate 25a, thence through the core of the spring connection 25, a bore opening in bridge 23a, and finally through the brace member 15a, whereupon the nut 26 on the upper end of screw 26a maintains the proper tension of the spring connection 25. As may be more clearly seen from FIG. 5, brace member 15a extends across the space between the connecting rods 15 inter-connecting the same at their upper edges. Thus, the upward movement of lever arms 23 may he said to be limited by the over-riding brace member 15a with respect to upward pivotal movement, while the same are limited in a downward direction by virtue of the spring connection 25.

In normal operation, during each pulsating revolution of wheel 13a, pawl 22 serves to advance winchdrum 18 in Ithe direction of the arrow 20a a given increment, since connecting rod 15 travels upwardly and forwardly. Non-reverse pawl 27, located on the far side of drum 18 and pivotally connected to slide frame 17, releases teeth 24 during such advance. However, on the return cycle of wheel 13a and movement of slide frame 17 backwardly, pawl 27 prevents reverse rotation of drum 18, which may be otherwise caused by the tension thereagainst of traction line 21.

Nevertheless, if the resistance to the force of motor 11 caused by the mine face and transmitted by line 21 is excessive, then pawl 22 will yield due to the resiliency of the mounting by spring connection 25 on connecting rod 15. The motor mechanism will not be damaged, inasmuch as the slide frame 17 continues its limited linear path unrestricted due to this automatic resilient safety feature, even though the drum 18 is not advanced during the cycle. When the excessive resistance by line 21 is overcome or its cause removed, the pawl 22 will come back into play and advance the drum 18 the given increment.

In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 the cutting or shaving element 29 is shown, mounted for slidable travel back and forth over track frame 28 and urged forward at one end against the mine face 31 by traction line 21. Plane edges 30 are mounted as a unit along a base strip 38 at a slight- `ly inclined angle at either end of the shaving element 29 so that cutting of the mine face 31 in either direction will be facilitated. Strip 38 in turn is carried by shafts 36, received within spring sleeves 34 and 35 located inside shaving element 29. Spring plate 37 separates springs 32 and 33, which surround shafts 36, and serves to resiliently absorb via said springs any slightly excessive resistance caused by the mine face 31 and transmitted to shafts 36.

Where the resistance met is toov great to be absorbed by springs 32 and 33, the entire force of the shaving element 29 is brought against strip 3S, closing the space therebetween so that the resistance is passed on via traction line 21 to drum 18. Because of the automatic safety feature provided in the resilient mounting of pawls 22, no damage is done to the driving mechanism. The linear travel merely continues in pulsating fashion without attendant drum rotation until the cause of the excessive resistance is removed.

Usually, however, the pulsating actionof the shaving element 29 will cause cutting edges 30 to chip away, little by little, the portion of the mine face causing the excessive resistance until the rotation of the drum can be effected once more. Then the rotation will again take place, no stopping-of the operation or resetting of the safety mechanism being necessary. The shafts 36 also readily return to their former position, wherein the strip 38 again becomes spaced from the shaving element 29.

lt wil-l be seen that pulsating may be further effected by displacing cutting edges 30 back and forth over a short distance via springs 32 and 33 during each cycle, if desired, by adjusting the tension of these psrings in relation to `the pulsating force and the resistance to be met.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the winch can be arranged stationary on a frame. This frame also carries a cable or chain -drum 40 driven by a motor 43 through the intermediary of a gear transmission 41 and 42. A sliding clutch or some other device safeguarding against breakage can be introduced in this gearing.

A crank shaft 45 mounted in Ithe winch frame is also driven by the gearing 41, 42 through the intermediary of a gear wheel 44.

. The cable 43 wound on the drum' 40 does not extend directly to the shaving element. but rst passes over a Ireversing pulley 47. Owing to the fact that this reversing pulley is moved back and forth by the rotation of the crank shaft 45, the pulsating tension is produced in the cable 48 which has been found particularly advantageous for removing exceptionally hard and tough coal by v,means of a planing or shaving element in which the cutting edges of the shaving element are arranged movable in relation to the body of the shaving element against the action of a spring.

It will be understood that, while a strip 38 has been shown for resiliently mounting cutting edges 30 with respect to springs 32 and 33, cutting edges 30 may also be individually mounted directly on separate shafts 36, each .resiliently connected by means of springs 32 and 33 to the shaving element 29.

FIGURE 4 shows a biased coal face, indicating that the mining operation in accordance with the invention may be carried out at any angle. In this figure, the coal which is shaved or chipped by the pulsating action is received in conveyor trough 39, which is mounted thereunder for that purpose within frame 28.

What is -claimed is:

1. A shaving apparatus comprising a shaver element arranged for linear travel having cutting means disposed thereon, a stationary, operatively independent, unilateral pulsating driving means, and a unilateral drawing means interconnecting said shaver element with said driving means, said drawing means transmitting intermittent, unilateral pulsating forces from said driving means to *saidy shaver` element to force said shaver element unilaterally in increments in a linear direction.

2. A shaving apparatus comprising a shaver element arranged for linear movement along an extended path' of travel adjacent a mine face, said shaver elemen-t having cutting means disposed thereon for engagement with the mine face, a pulsating `driving means separate and remote from said shaver element and stationarily positioned with respect `to the movement of said shaver element along the path of travel, and cable means interconnecting said pulsating driving means and said shaver element, said cable means transmitting intermittent pulsating forces from said driving means to said shaver element to force said shaver element along the path of travel in increments.

3. A shaving apparatus comprising a shaver element arranged for linear movement along an extended path of travel adjacent a mine face, said shaver element having cutting means disposed thereon for engagement with the mine face, and operatively independent pulsating driving means separate and remote from said shaver element and stationarily positioned with respect to the movement of said shaver element along the path of travel, and cable 'means interconnecting said pulsating driving means and said shaver element, said cable means transmitting intermittent, unilateral, pulsating forces from said driving means to said shaver element to force said shaver element Yalong the path of ktravel in increments, said pulsating driving means having take-up means for shortening the length of said cable means in increments corresponding to the increments of travel of said shaver element during each pulsating cycle of said driving means.

4. A shaving apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said shaver element is provided with a plurality of cutting means disposed thereon, said cutting means being carried as a unit on a common brace member resiliently connected to said shaver element.

5. A shaving apparatus comprising a shaver element arranged for linear movement along an extended path of travel adjacent a mine face, said shaver element having cutting means disposed thereon for engagement with the mine face, and operatively independent pulsating driving means separate and remote from said shaver element and 4stationarily positioned With respect to the movement of said shaver element along the path of travel, and cable means interconnecting said pulsating driving means and said shaver element, said cable means transmitting intermittent, unilateral pulsating forces from said driving means to said shaver element to force said shaver element along the path of travel in increments, said pulsating driving means having take-up means for shortening the length of said cable means in increments, corresponding .to the increments of travel of said shaver element during each pulsating cycle of said driving means, including a rotary crank drive means linkably connected byV connecting rod means to a frame means slidable in a forward and backward linear direction, said rotary crank drive means driving said connecting rod means in limited forward and upward direction during the lirst half of each link means being positioned on said connecting rod means in releasable rotational engagement with said winch means for rotation of the winch means by rotatably advancing said winch means in increments during the rst half of each cycle and in turn shortening the length of the cable means in corresponding increments by winding said cable means on said winch means.

6. A shaving apparatus according to claim wherein said shaver element is forced forward in a linear direction during each backward movement of said frame means a distance corresponding to the linear increment said frarlne means travels during the second half of each said cyc e.

7. A shaving apparatus comprising a shaver element arranged for linear movement along an extended path of travel adjacent a mine face, said shaver element having cutting means disposed thereon for engagement with the mme face, and operatively independent pulsating driving means separate and remote from said shaver element and stationarily positioned with respect to the movement of said shaver element along the path `of travel, and cable means interconnecting said pulsating driving means and said shaver element, said cable means transmitting intermittent, unilateral pulsating forces from said driving means to said shaver element to force said shaver element along the path of travel in increments, said pulsating driving means having take-up means for shortening the length of said cable means in increments corresponding to the increments of travel of said shaver element during each pulsating cycle of said driving means including a rotary crank drive means linkably connected by connecting rod means to a frame means slidable in a forward and backward linear direction, said rotary crank drive means driv- 'mg said connecting rod means in limited forward and upward direction during the first half of each cycle and in limited backward and downward direction during the second half of each cycle, and said connecting rod means in turn forcing said frame means in alimited forward and backward linear direction, respectively, during each cycle, a winch means being rotatably mounted on said frame means for linear travel together with said frame means, said cable means being connected to said driving meansby disposition on said winch means and pawl means pivotally mounted on said connecting rod means and ratchet teeth defined on said winch means, said pawl means releasably engaging said ratchet teeth and rotatably advancing said winch means in increments during the limited forward and upward travel of said connecting rod means by engagement with said ratchet teeth for rotation of the winch means by rotatably advancing said winch means in increments during the irst half of each cycle and in turn shortening the length of the cable means in corresponding increments by winding said cable on said winch means.

8. A shaving apparatus comprising a shaver element arranged for linear movement along an extended path of travel adjacent a mine face, said shaver element having cutting means disposed thereon` for engagement with the mine face, and operatively independent pulsating driving means separate and remote from said shaver element and stationarily positioned with respect to the movement of said shaver element along the path of travel, and cable means interconnecting said pulsating driving means and said shaver element, said cable means transmitting intermittent, unilateral pulsating forces from said driving means to said shaver element to force said shaver element along the path of travel in increments, said pulsating driving means having take-up means for shortening the length of said cable means in increments corresponding to the increments of travel of said shaver element during each pulsating cycle of said driving means including a rotary crank drive means linkably connected by connecting rod means to a frame means slidable in a forward .and backward linear direction, said rotary crank drive Vmeans driving said connecting rod means in limited forward and upward direction during the first half of each cycle and in limited backward and downward direction during the second half of each cycle, and said connecting rod means in turn forcing said frame means in a limited forward and backward linear direction, respectively, during each cycle, a winch means being rotatably mounted c on said frame means for linear travel together with said frame means, said cable means being connected to said driving means by disposition on said Winch means and pawl means resiliently mounted on said connecting rod means and ratchet teeth defined on said winch means, said pawl means releasably engaging said ratchet teeth and rotatably advancing said winch means in increments during the limited forward and upward travel of said connecting rod means by engagement with said ratchet teeth for rotation of the winch means by rotatably advancing said winch means in increments during the rst half of each cycle and in turn shortening the length of cable means in corresponding increments by winding said cable means on said winch means, said pawl means, upon excessive resistance to said pulsating driving means caused by counter-forces exerted against said cutting means, resiliently yielding to and absorbing said forces, preventing said counter-forces from acting directly against the forces exerted by said pulsating driving means.

9. A shaving apparatus according `to claim 8 wherein the resilient mounting of said pawl means includes spring means connecting said pivotally mounted pawl means to said connecting rod means.

l0. A shaving apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the tension of said spring means is adjustable.

11. A shaving apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said counter forces are at least partially absorbed by means of limited displacement resilient means connecting said cutting means to said shaver element.

12. A shaving apparatus according to claim 8 wherein separate releasable locking pawl means in engagement with said ratchet teeth is provided for preventing reverse rotation of said winch means during the second half of each cycle.

13. A shaving apparatus according to claim l2 wher e in said locking pawl means is pivotally connected to said frame means and is in releasable engagement with said ratchet teeth with respect to advancing rotational direction, yet is in locking engagement with said ratchet teeth with respect to reverse rotational direction.

14. A shaving apparatus comprising a shaver element arranged for linear movement along an extended path of travel adjacent a mine face, said shaver element having cutting means disposed thereon for engagement with the mine face, and operatively independent pulsating driving means separate and remote stationarily positioned with respect to the movement of said shaver element along the path of ltravel, and cable means interconnecting said pulsating driving means and said shaver element, said cable means transmitting intermittent, unilateral pulsating forces from said driving means to said shaver element .to force said shaver element along the path Aof travel in increments, said pulsating driving means having take-up means for shortening the length of said cable means in increments corresponding to the increments of travel of said shaver element during each pulsating cycle of said driving means including a loosely mounted eccentrically rotating means in linkage with a rotatable drum, said cable means being guided over said eccentrically rotating means and wound upon said drum.

15. A shaving apparatus according to claim 14 wherein a slipping clutch is provided in the driving linkage of said driving means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,699,930 Lobbe lan. 18, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,094,480 France Dec. 8, 1954 717,033 Great Britain Oct, 20, 1954 from said shaver element and 

1. A SHAVING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SHAVER ELEMENT ARRANGED FOR LINEAR TRAVEL HAVING CUTTING MEANS DISPOSED THEREON, A STATIONARY, OPERATIVELY INDEPENDENT, UNILATERAL PULSATING DRIVING MEANS, AND A UNILATERAL DRAWING MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID SHAVER ELEMENT WITH SAID DRIVING 